Card package



Feb'. 26, '1963 R, E, sMlTH 3,078,990

CARD PACKAGE Filed Oct. 4, 1961 1 4 14 INVEN TOR.

Randall E. Smih ATTORNEY 3,678,990 Patented Feb. Z6, 1963 3,978,990 CARD PACKAGE Randall E. Smith, Upper Saddle River, NJ., assigner to Republic lFastener Products Corp., Saddle Brook, NJ., a corporation Filed tct. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 142,973 2 Claims. (Cl. 20d- 65) This invention relates in general to a card package, and more particularly to a card package specifically constructed and arranged for packaging hog rings.

A hog ring is herein dened as any open end or C shaped ring or clip. Generally such rings or clips are provided with sharp points on the ends thereof. They are usually formed of suitable wire stock and are used as a fastener for securing, for example, seat covers to upholstered seats or chairs. To function as a fastener a plier type tool is generally required to press close the open ends of the ring or clip.

The packaging of these rings for retail sale poses many discerning problems. Packaging such rings in a box is not satisfactory because the rings would tend to interlock and tangle, and thus make it necessary for the user to untangle the rings prior to using. This is not only timeconsuming, but oftentimes aggravating to the user. Further, the sharp points of the rings would require that the boxes be made of relatively heavy gauge material. Still another disadvantage of box packaging hog rings is that the particular size of the rings packed therein are not readily ascertained without opening the box. Con-sequently prospective purchasers are encouraged to handle such boxes; and expelience h-as shown that such excessive handling results in damaged goods, and excessive loss or waste.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide for a novel card type package for retailing hog rings and the like which overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages.

Another object is to provide a novel card package formed of a blank of sheet material that is preformed and readily folded to a predetermined configuration particularly suitable for loosely retaining thereon a plurality of hog rings.

Still another object is to provide a novel card holder for retaining hog rings thereon in a neat and orderly arrangement.

And still another object is to provide a card holder with means for facilitating removal of the rings from the holder as desired without entangling or disturbing the order of the remaining rings.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision that the card package permit the rings to be at all times visible to a prospective purchaser, and thus obviate the need or desire to handle or damage the merchandise.

Another feature resides in the provision that the card package is relatively simple in construction, relatively inexpensive and positive in operation.

Other features and advantages will be readily apparent when considered in view of the drawing and description in which:

lliiG. 1 is a plan view of the preformed blank of sheet material for forming the card package in `accordance with this invention.

FlG. 2 is a plan view of the formed card holder with the hog rings retained therein.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the card package.

FIG. 4 is a left end View of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a left end view of FIG. 2 illustrating the end tabs folded downward (solid lines) to permit removal of the hog rings.

FIG. 6 is a right end View of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 the preformed blank 10 of sheet material, such as cardboard or the like, from which the card holder or package 11 is made. The blank 10' comprises an integral piece having a longitudinally extending central panel-portion 12.l Integrally connected along each longitudinal edge of the central panel portion 12 is an intermediate panel 13. A' fold line F1 and F2 is formed at the junction of the central panel 12 and its respective intermediate panel 13. A substantially co-extensive end panel 14 is connected to the outer edge portion of each intermediate panel 13 along fold lines F3 and F4, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment fold lines F3 and F4 are scored whereas fold lines F1 and'F2 are split or creased.

According to this invention the opposed end portion of the central panel portion 12 extends beyond the ends 13A of the intermediate panels 13. Connected -to the extended portion of the central panel 12 are front and rear tabs 15 and 16, respectively. These tabs 15 and 16 eX- tend laterally of the extended central panel portion and are integrally connected thereto. As shown, the front tabs 15 have a width substantially equal to that of the intermediate panels 13, and they are connected to the central panel portion along an extension F5, F6 of fold lines F1 and F2. They are also connected to the adjacent end 13A of the intermediate panel 13 along perforated or readily frangible line F7. The rear tabs 16 are formed integral with the central p-anel. Also the portion of the rear tabs 16 adjacent the intermediate panel 13 is free therefrom.

According to this invention the intermediate panels 13 are substantially equal in width and are foldable downwardly and inwardly along fold lines F1 and F2 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Because the front tabs 15 are secured thereto along lines 1:7, tabs 15 will fold downwardly and inwardly along fold line extensions F5, FG.

With the intermediate panels 13 and front tabs 15 thus folded downwardly and inwardly, the end panels 14 are folded outwardly relative to their respective intermediate panels 13. The rear end tabs 16 in this position lie in the plane of the Vcentral panel 12. The card holder thus formed is readily to receive the clip or hog ring 17.

Because the hog rings 17 are generally C shaped with inwardly turned end portions 17A a row of aligned rings 17 may be readily slipped onto the key shape way defined by the central panel portion 12 and the depending intermediate panel 13. The laterally extending rear end tabs 16 form a stop to prevent displacement of the rings 17 from the rear end of holder 11.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outwardly bent end panels 14 shield and protect the sharp ends of the rings 17. When the prescribed number of rings are placed on the holder described, the front end tabs 16 are separated from the intermediate panels 13 and they are folded upwardly so as to be in a plane substantially coincident with the central panel portion 12. Thus the front tabs 15 form a front stop and prohibit removal of the rings 17 from the holder 11.

Because the hog rings 17 are readily stiff, the shape of the folded card holder 11 is retained, and at the same time the rings 17 do not become separated therefrom without effort.

To remove the rings 17 as desired, one need only to fold the front tabs 15 downwardly and inwardly. The `adjacent end rings 17 are then free to Ibe slipped off the end of the holder.

Since the hog rings on any given card holder are formed of wire having a uniform diameter, the exact number of rings can be packaged in a given holder simply by regulating the distance between end tabs. Thus the predetermined length between tabs insures accurate count. Consequently shortages which were heretofore prevalent by weighing, are eliminated by the instant concept. For this reason the hog rings can be merchandised and priced exactly -by count or quantity.

With this construction it will be apparent that the hog rings 17 are at all times visible to the prospective buyer, and that tangling of the rings 17 is rendered virtually impossible on such holder. Further one or more rings may be removed at will without disturbing the order of the remaining rings. Also the card holder forms a neat, pleasant, practical and convenient means for retailing, storing or shipping an article heretofore diicult to package.

While `the instant invention has been disclosed with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not to be taken as limited to all of the details thereof as modifications and variations thereof may -be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A card package for a plurality of open end hog rings comprising a blank of sheet material having a dat central elongated longitudinally extending panel portion, an intermediate panel connected along a fold line to each longitudinal edge of said central panel portion, and a substantially co-extensive longitudinally extending side panel connected along a fold line extending along the outer edge of each intermediate panel, said intermediate panel being ioldable inwardly under said central panel portion so that the free ends of said intermediate panels are continuously deposited below said central panel portion in spaced relationship thereto, and the connected side panels being tfolded outwardly relative to their respective connected intermediate panels along their respective fold lines to shield the points of the hog rings which are adapted to straddle the central panel portion, said central, intermedistraddle the central panel portion, said central, intermediate and side panels defining an omega-shaped card package in cross-section, and said central panel portion having laterally extending end tabs disposed in the plane thereof and connected at each end thereof to form an end stop to prevent the hog ring stowed thereon from sliding off the ends of said central panel portion whereby the endmost l hog ring engages the edge of said end tabs, and the end tabs connected at one end of said central panel being foldable downwardly and inwardly to facilitate the removal of the rings from said one end of said package.

2. A card package comprising a sheet of blank material having a dat central longitudinal extending central panel portion, end tabs normally disposed in the plane of said central panel portion extending laterally to either side of said central panel at each end of said central panel portion, an intermediate panel extending between said end tabs and connected along a fold line on either side of said central panel, the tabs at one end being substantially equal to the width of said intermediate panel and adapted to be foldable relative to said central panel portions along the fold line between said central panel portion and intermediate panel, a side panel substantially Aco-extensive with each of said intermediate panels and connected along a second fold line extending along the outer edge of its respective intermediate panels, said intermediate panels being foldable inwardly under said central panel portion along their respective fold lines so that the free end of said intermediate panels are continuously disposed, and the connected side panels being folded outwardly relative to their respective intermediate side panels along their respective lines to define with said central panel portion and connected intermediate panel portions an omegashaped in cross-section, a plurality of open end hog rings retained on said package by straddling the central panel of said package between said end tabs whereby the endmost rings engage the edges of said tabs, and the end tabs at one end of said central panel portion being foldable downwardly and inwardly thereof to permit the removal of said rings from said end thereof.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A CARD PACKAGE FOR A PLURALITY OF OPEN END HOG RINGS COMPRISING A BLANK OF SHEET MATERIAL HAVING A FLAT CENTRAL ELONGATED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PANEL PORTION, AN INTERMEDIATE PANEL CONNECTED ALONG A FOLD LINE TO EACH LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID CENTRAL PANEL PORTION, AND A SUBSTANTIALLY CO-EXTENSIVE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SIDE PANEL CONNECTED ALONG A FOLD LINE EXTENDING ALONG THE OUTER EDGE OF EACH INTERMEDIATE PANEL, SAID INTERMEDIATE PANEL BEING FOLDABLE INWARDLY UNDER SAID CENTRAL PANEL PORTION SO THAT THE FREE ENDS OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PANELS ARE CONTINUOUSLY DEPOSITED BELOW SAID CENTRAL PANEL PORTION IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP THERETO, AND THE CONNECTED SIDE PANELS BEING FOLDED OUTWARDLY RELATIVE TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CONNECTED INTERMEDIATE PANELS ALONG THEIR RESPECTIVE FOLD LINES TO SHIELD THE POINTS OF THE HOG RINGS WHICH ARE ADAPTED TO STRADDLE THE CENTRAL PANEL PORTION, SAID CENTRAL, INTERMEDIATE AND SIDE PANELS DEFINING AN OMEGA SHAPED CARD PACK AGE IN CROSS-SECTION, AND SAID CENTRAL PANEL PORTION HAVING LATERALLY EXTENDING END TABS DISPOSED IN THE PLANE THEREOF AND CONNECTED AT EACH END THEREOF TO FORM AN END STOP TO PREVENT THE HOG RING STOWED THEREON FROM SLIDING OFF THE ENDS OF SAID CENTRAL PANEL PORTION WHEREBY THE ENDMOST HOG RING ENGAGES THE EDGE OF SAID END TABS, AND THE END TABS CONNECTED AT ONE END OF SAID CENTRAL PANEL BEING FOLDABLE DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY TO FACILITATE THE REMOVAL OF THE RINGS FROM SAID ONE OF SAID PACKAGE. 